The spread of dispensable short-form cricket is the greatest threat to mankind since hyperbole. Not only is it clogging our environment and harming human interest, it is endangering wild animals, like Glenn Maxwell.
With another frivolous T20 following November’s incongruous three game ODI series, we are forced again to discuss this uncomfortable epidemic. Apologies for tainting tonight’s clash between Australia and its traditional rival in the format, the contractually obliged.
Studies show meaningless limited overs matches – officially defined by the CSIRO as lightweight cricket of less than 100 overs in thickness – have rapidly multiplied to crisis levels in recent times.
2018 has seen further worrying increases, with 125 ODIs, 76 T20s and 3.2 million franchise matches played, three of which can be recalled if posed as a multiple choice question.
Such is the proliferation, many say limited overs pyjama cricket has become much like plastic bags, only in greater numbers and with less substance.
D’Arcy Short walks out to bat. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
However, this was always inevitable considering Test matches are famously known as the trusty biodegradable cardboard box of cricket.
While there are many theories for the multiplication of ODI and T20 cricket, most experts blame the moment cricketers became soulless automatons. This time is also commonly referred to as the professional era.
This period has seen administrators freely exploit cricketers by forcing them to work for millions and millions of dollars, leaving slews of limited overs cricket clogged between any 12 hour gaps in the schedule.
Series are usually of a heavy plastic nature, meaning – despite hurried manufacturing – they are extremely difficult to dilute. While some meet environmental standards, most simply wash up in front of empty stadiums.
However, limited overs cricket can be rescued if it follows plastic bags.
Thankfully, legislation has seen a reduction in almost 3.2 billion plastic bags a year. This equates to nearly half the T20s played annually on the subcontinent, and a quarter of the naming sponsors they cram in to a series name.
While a large number of these matches do provide work to around 30,000 banished West Indians, only 0.001 per cent per cent of fixtures find their way into the public conscious.
Nowhere is this comparison between plastic and limited overs cricket more stark than Australia, where its short-form teams are strewn across formats and used to store nick-nacks and droppings.
International administrators are attempting to remedy this with an ODI championship in coming years, while at home, authorities have adopted measures by forcing Australians to pay for plastic cricket.
Nevertheless, there is silver lining for suffering fans of the green and gold.
With iPhones and 280 character restrictions in full cry alongside saturation limited overs cricket, their side’s awful form is more easier to forget than ever.
kk
Roar Pro
Hi Dane, The ABC's 'LANDLINE' presented a gutwrencher on the strawberry industry, particularly in Queensland where Farmer Schultz presented the following snapshot of the tragedy. 45 million runners produce 135 million punnets (3 puns. per run.) Population 25 million. The LO cricket season will produce 52,500 minutes of ODI's (125 x 420 min) and also 11,400 minutes of T20's (76 x 150 min) exposing the variety to 63,900 min. in a season. Viewing audience...TBA. Oversupply and overexposure do not make for good business practice. I love cricket and I love strawberries. You can't plough cricket back into the ground and try another crop. I noted that the NRL exposes the code to a scheduled 16,080 min.per season. The timely ABC programme had me stumped but it encouraged me to return to your excellent article. Go Strikers go! Hope my calcs. are correct.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Good piece Dane. As Clive of Kogarah said; "'Common sense and a sense of humour are the same things, moving at different speeds. A sense of humour is just common sense, dancing."
Spencer Kassimir
Roar Pro
I'm assuming all of these questions are rhetorical and/or for dramatic effect so just reread what I wrote. You don't have to like how the short form impacts the style of game you enjoy. As such, T20 does all the things you "asked" about in a shorter format that encourages more high-risk swings at the ball and more high speed/effortsome bowls since it will be done with only twenty overs... If you don't like change, go play four balls per over cricket and keep score on a stick as the "real" traditionalists did in the 1700s...
Dan
Guest
Aus cricket is woeful to watch atm poor batting poor attitudes Great to see
Paul
Roar Guru
"There is nothing wrong with T20." Please tell me how batting in a T20 teaches or enhances defensive technique? Please tell me how bowling in a T20 on absolute roads does anything to improve a bolwers technique to get players out? Please tell me how this form of the game enables cricketers to capture and maintain both mental & physical fitness to field for anything up to 6 sessions, to bowl more than 4 overs or to bat for more than 20?
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
It's not even the best available team selected anyway and that is excluding test bowlers and banned or injured players. M.Marsh is a better all rounder in T20 compared to Stoinis. If Turner is able to bowl he should be in the team. Preferred team Khawaja Finch Lynn Maxwell Mcdermott (wk) Turner M.Marsh Agar/Zampa NCN Stanlake Tye
Arcturus
Roar Rookie
Not sure your analogy holds water Dane. Surely if one dayers are like plastic bags, then people should be forced to pay an additional 15 cents to watch a more robust product. They would only be allowed to watch another game after the old one is completely used up, or they have forgotten the old one.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Spot on mbp - its been 52 years since my dad took me to Adelaide Oval for my first test and I've been obsessed since. Like you, I thought the game untouchable but money has changed it all, and the administrator's KPIs being linked to attendances and making big $s means it aint gonna change back any time soon - sigh.
Spencer Kassimir
Roar Pro
@Dane I really did enjoy the article so thank you for putting it out there. There is nothing wrong with T20. It's closer to baseball in terms of the respective value of runs to outs. As such, due to the 120 bowls (Baseball has around 146 pitches), it employs a "use it or lose it" ultimatum in the batting tactics that encourage more higher risk big swings in a short period of time instead of the test or 50/50 style where "defensive attrition" aka wearing down the bowler is critical. We could always go back to five balls in an over unless you prefer the pre-1889 model of only four and, while we're at it, only give sixes when the ball is hit over the stands and award "fivers" when the ball was hit over the boundary on the full. PS You played indoor cricket but still wrote this!? Hmpf... @BallsOutPhD (Twitter/Insta)
kk
Roar Pro
Dane, Agree with every over of your productive analysis. The supermarkets got it right. Our Spring and Summers are becoming akin to endangered species. Ten race cards at the gallops followed by an overload of OD'ers may cause nation wide anxiety leading to an epidemic of erectile dysfunction of body, brain and purse. There are only 100+ days before we return to sanity and a season of great promise.
mbp
Guest
having been a die hard cricket fan for the last 47 years of my life i just dont feel like watching it any more. the events of the last few years... contract disputes.... over punishmentof players for ball tampering... certain talented players that never get selected for the national team... compulsory bowler rotations.... and some cricket going to cable..... all a big turn off. cricket australia has done a masterful job of beating down a untouchable part of aussie life and turning it into just a average sport. sad...!
Paul
Roar Guru
get rid of half the T20 games would be a good start.Completely ridiculous having so many games over a two month period. I'd keep the ODI's, at least there is some sort of contest between bat & ball, batsmen don't completely forget how to play the game and bowlers don't lose all confidence by being slogged for 6, on postage stamp grounds, by no-name guys who can't make it in long form cricket.
Onside
Guest
Are billions of dollars and bookmakers involved.
Paul
Roar Guru
59 T20 matches in ONE season of hit and giggle cricket. No wonder no one can remember anything about the games..
John
Guest
T20 cricket should be for domestic leagues only.
Mick Jeffrey
Roar Rookie
Strangely I reckon more people will be interested in how the Queensland Bats (namely Renshaw and Labuschagne) go against the first test attack today in Canberra than they would be in the game at Carrara tonight, whose cricketing claim to fame prior to this was having David Gower and John Morris fly a tiger moth plane overhead during a tour match on the 1990/91 Ashes Tour.
Simon
Guest
I want to take this Glenn Maxwell line further and say if they ceased to exist, he'd be a regular Test player. His best format for the last year or two has been long form cricket but because we know him as the fancy shots player he gets misunderstood but just about everyone, especially the Australian setup
Terry Pascoe
Roar Rookie
Great piece Dane! I truly believe 50/50 should be done away with. The cricket calendar is too bulky now and something needs to go.
kopa shamsu
Guest
i watch t20's only when i have trouble sleeping,easy peasy.